Effect of oxide contamination on the position of the liquidus curve of the NaCl–AlCl3 system

Abstract

The effect of oxide ion concentration on the position of the liquidus curve of the NaCl–AlCl₃ system has been measured. The presence of oxide ions move the liquidus curve of the system towards the AlCl₃-rich side (reduces the amount of NaCl in the salt-saturated melt) by ca. 4–5 mol% per 1 molal oxide. This is due to the reaction of oxide or water with the melt to release chloride ions, which suppress the solubility of NaCl by a common ion effect.